WHAT IS A LEARNING DISABILITY.................................

If you think your child might have a learning disability, you may feel overwhelmed by the information, the numerous tests, and the lack of clarity about how to get the best help for your child. What you need is a roadmap for sifting through the information and finding the valuable support that is available. You also may need a bit of perspective. The brain has an amazing capacity to change and children respond when given the support and encouragement they need. Early intervention and support can really make a difference in giving your child the best chance for success.

What is a learning disability?

"He has the
ability, if he just tried harder, he could do it. He chooses not to do the
work."
"If she would just
pay attention, she would get it."
"After I give the
instructions, he sits there and stares at his paper. He is not motivated."

A child with a learning
disability cannot try harder, pay closer attention, or improve motivation on
their own; they need help to learn how to do those things. A learning
disability, or learning disorder, is not a problem with intelligence. Learning
disorders are caused by a difference in the brain that affects how information
is received, processed, or communicated. Children and adults with learning
disabilities have trouble processing sensory information because they see, hear, and understand things differently.  

Hope for learning disabilities: The brain can change

Science has made great strides in understanding the inner workings of the brain, and one important discovery that brings new hope for learning disabilities and disorders is called neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s natural, lifelong ability to change¾to
form new connections and generate new brain cells in response to experience and learning. This knowledge has led to groundbreaking new treatments for learning disabilities that harness the power of neuroplasticity to retrain the brain.

How does understanding the brain help with a learning disability or disorder?

Using a telephone analogy, faulty wiring in the brain disrupts normal lines of communication and makes it difficult to process information easily. If service was down in a certain area of the city the phone company might fix the problem by re–wiring the connections. Similarly, under the right learning conditions, the brain has the ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. Those new connections facilitate skills like reading and writing that had been difficult using the old connections. 

Parenting a child with a learning disability or learning disorder

As a parent, discovering that something may stand in the way of your child’s success can be unsettling and difficult. Whether or not your child has a learning disability, remember that the way you behave and what you do
has the most impact on your child’s chances of success. Everyone faces
obstacles and the most important thing you can show your child, apart from your consistent love and support, is how to deal with obstacles. A good attitude won’t solve the problem, but it can give your child hope and confidence that things can improve.
Your first task as the parent of a child with a learning disability is to recognize that there are many things you can do to help your child:

Keep things in perspective – Try not to be intimidated by the news that your
     child may have a learning disability – all people learn differently. Your
     most important job is to support your child and to help them keep their
     self esteem in tact. Challenges can be overcome. Don’t let the tests,
     school bureaucracy and endless paperwork distract you from what is really
     important – providing your child with emotional, educational and moral
     support.

Do your own research and become your own expert – Learn about new
     developments in learning disabilities, different programs and educational
     techniques that could make an impact with your child. You may
     instinctively look to others for solutions – schools, teachers, therapists
     or doctors – but you need to take charge when it comes to finding the
     tools your child needs to continue learning.

Be an advocate for your child – You may have to speak up time and time again to get special help for your child. Embrace your role as a proactive
parent and work on your communication skills. It may be frustrating a
times, but your calm, reasonable and firm voice may make the difference is
achieving what you want for your child.

Remember that your influence on your child outweighs all others – Your child will follow your lead. If you approach the learning challenges with optimism,
hard work and a sense of humor, your child is likely to embrace your
perspective or at least see the challenges as a detour rather than a
roadblock. Also, remember that the school situation doesn’t have to be
perfect. Focus your energy on learning what works and implementing it in
your child’s life the best you can.

In this age of endless budget cuts and inadequately funded schools, your role in your child’s education is more important than ever. Don’t sit back and let someone else be responsible for providing your child with the tools they need to learn. You can and should take an active role in your child’s education.

Symptoms and types of
learning disabilities and disorders

 

If you’re aware of some
of the common signs of learning disabilities and learning disorders in
children, you’ll be able to catch the problem early and take steps to get your
child help. Paying attention to normal developmental milestones for toddlers
and preschoolers is very important. Early detection of developmental
differences may be an early signal of a learning disability and problems that
are spotted early can be easier to correct.
A developmental lag
might not be considered a symptom of a learning disability until your child is
older, but if you recognize it when your child is young, you can intervene
early. You know your child better than anyone else does, so if you think there
is a problem, it doesn't hurt to get an evaluation. You can also ask your
pediatrician for a developmental milestones chart.
The activity of
diagnosing the type of learning disability can be overwhelming and time
consuming. Try not to get caught up in trying to determine the label or type of
disorder and focus instead on figuring out how best to support your child.
The National Center for
Learning Disabilities has created a comprehensive checklist covering the eight
areas affected by learning disabilities. Before
you read this section, please PRINT the NCLD checklist for reference. The checklist, organized
by skill set and age group, can help you evaluate your child’s signs and
symptoms and indicate whether you should seek further assistance from a teacher
or professional skilled in diagnosing learning disabilities.